I start "some" beans early, usually about 50 plants of very early varieties, white seeded varieties, and the tastiest (to me) varieties. The rest can wait.
I start bush types about 3 weeks before transplant, pole types about 2 1/2 weeks early.
I use 16 to 20 ounce plastic drink cups, a couple of small slits at the bottom near the edge, filled with garden soil to about 3/4 " from the top. Germination (about 5-7 days) is indoors, unless it is warmer outside during the day. 25 cups can fit into a no-spill???!!! wire rack. So, it's two trips a day ( I really should not say trips), outside, then in, for the night.
Since indoor germination can be a week earlier than with outdoor germination, and outdoor may mean having to plant again (loosing another week or two), I can gain 3 to 4, or more, weeks.
Gary
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